Secondary alkyl sulfate-containing hard surface cleaning compositions

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a hard surface cleaning composition comprising from about 0.1 percent by weight to about 50 percent by weight, basis the total weight of the composition, of one or more secondary alkyl sulfate compounds.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to hard surface cleaning compositionscontaining one or more secondary alkyl sulfate compounds as anionicsurfactant components.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

General purpose household cleaning compositions for hard surfaces suchas metal, glass, ceramic, plastic and linoleum surfaces, are commonlyavailable in both powdered and liquid form. Powdered cleaningcompositions consist primarily of builder or buffering salts such asphosphates, carbonates, silicates, etc, and are particularly useful forsolid and organic soil removal. Liquid cleaning compositions consistprimarily of water and/or solvents, and are particularly useful forgrease and oily soil removal.

Linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) is widely used as surfactant in hardsurface cleaning compositions. A potential disadvantage of LAS, however,is that under hard water conditions, i.e., calcium levels greater thanabout 150 parts per million, it can interact with cationic waterhardness ions, such as calcium, thereby becoming inactivated throughprecipitation. While this is a problem common to anionic surfactants,LAS is especially sensitive to water hardness ions.

Although not wishing to be bound by any theory, the literature indicatesthat the aforementioned interaction can best be understood byconsidering the micellar structure of anionic surfactants, e.g., LAS.Repulsive forces between negative charges in the sulfonate group lead toa higher critical micelle concentration (CMC) than, for example, with anonionic surfactant. CMC is the surfactant concentration at whichmicellar formation begins. Stated otherwise, the negative charge of LASretards micellar formation and shifts the equilibrium towards themonomer. A relatively high monomer concentration in solution resultsthereby; this is significant because precipitation between calcium ionand LAS occurs only with the monomer.

It has been found that in both liquid and powdered hard surface cleaningcompositions, secondary alkyl sulfate can be used as an anionicsurfactant component in place of LAS with the advantages being increasedtolerance for water hardness ions, good soil removal properties, higheractive raw material, i.e., less water, and better color of anionic rawmaterial.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention therefore provides a hard surface cleaningcomposition which comprises from about 0.1 percent by weight to about 50percent by weight, basis the total weight of the composition, of one ormore secondary alkyl sulfate compounds.

The present invention also provides a liquid hard surface cleaningcomposition comprising from about 0.1 percent by weight to about 21percent by weight, basis the total weight of the composition, of one ormore secondary alkyl sulfate compounds, and from about 60 percent byweight to about 99.9 percent by weight, basis the total weight of thecomposition, of one or more solvents.

The present invention further provides a powdered hard surface cleaningcomposition comprising from about 0.1 percent by weight to about 50percent by weight, basis the total weight of the composition, of one ormore secondary alkyl sulfate compounds, and from about 25 percent byweight to about 99.9 percent by weight, basis the total weight of thecomposition, of one or more builders.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 represents the level of oily/particulate soil which can beremoved by both secondary alkyl sulfate-containing hard surface cleaningcompositions and non-secondary alkyl sulfate-containing hard surfacecleaning compositions from linoleum tiles at room temperature (74° F.)and a water hardness level of 120 parts per million.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention provides a hard surface cleaning composition orformulation which comprises from about 0.1 percent by weight to about 50percent by weight, preferably from about 1 percent by weight to about 21percent by weight, basis the total weight of the composition, of one ormore secondary alkyl sulfate compounds. Liquid hard surface cleaningcompositions also contain from about 60 percent by weight to about 99.9percent by weight, preferably from about 70 percent by weight to about98 percent by weight, basis the total weight of the composition, of oneor more solvents. Powdered hard surface cleaning compositions containfrom about 25 percent by weight to about 99.9 percent by weight,preferably from about 40 percent by weight to about 95 percent byweight, basis the total weight of the composition, of one or morebuilders.

The secondary alkyl sulfate compounds serve as multi-functionalcomponents in the composition. Functioning as anionic surfactant, thepresence of these compounds aids in the removal of particulate and oilysoils. The secondary alkyl sulfate component further aids in providing ahard surface cleaning composition which is stable and has good foamingproperties. In addition, the secondary alkyl sulfate component aids infacilitating suspension of soil, easy addition and/or mixing of activesin the blending process, and hard water tolerance. These severalfunctions of the secondary alkyl sulfate compounds provide a veryeffective composition in terms of both its cleaning performance andphysical properties.

The secondary alkyl sulfate compounds suitable for use in the hardsurface cleaning compositions of the present invention have the formula:##STR1## wherein R₂ represents an alkyl group having from about 3 toabout 18 carbon atoms, and R₃ represents an alkyl group having fromabout 1 to about 6 carbon atoms. In a preferred embodiment, R₂ is analkyl group having from about 10 to about 16 carbon atoms, and R₃ is analkyl group having from about 1 to about 2 carbon atoms. It is preferredthat R₂ and R₃ together are alkyl groups having a total of from about 11to about 17 carbon atoms. Preferred secondary alkyl sulfate compoundsinclude C₁₂ secondary alkyl sulfates (particularly those in which R₂ inthe above formula represents an alkyl group having 10 carbon atoms andR₃ in the above formula represents an alkyl group having 1 carbon atom),C₁₄ secondary alkyl sulfates (particularly those in which R₂ in theabove formula represents an alkyl group having 12 carbon atoms and R₃ inthe above formula represents an alkyl group having 1 carbon atom) C₁₆secondary alkyl sulfates (particularly those in which R₂ in the aboveformula represents an alkyl group having 14 carbon atoms and R₃ in theabove formula represents an alkyl group having 1 carbon atom), C₁₈secondary alkyl sulfates (particularly those in which R₂ in the aboveformula represents an alkyl group having 16 carbon atoms and R₃ in theabove formula represents an alkyl group having 1 carbon atom), andblends of these compounds. The secondary alkyl sulfate component of theheavy duty liquid compositions of the present invention typicallycomprises a C₁₄ secondary alkyl sulfate compound, although blends of oneor more C₁₄ secondary alkyl sulfate compounds and one or more C₁₈secondary alkyl sulfate compounds, and blends of one or more C₁₄secondary alkyl sulfate compounds, one or more C₁₆ secondary alkylsulfate compounds, and one or more C₁₈ secondary alkyl sulfate compoundsalso provide suitable liquid laundry compositions.

For enhanced biodegradability, it is preferred that the alkyl groups R₂and R₃ of the secondary alkyl sulfate molecule all be of predominantlylinear carbon chain structure. In this respect, it is particularlypreferred that the surfactant molecules be essentially free of alkylgroups having multiple branches in the carbon chain.

The secondary alkyl sulfate compound(s) suitable for use in the presentinvention is a solid, free-flowing powdered material which has a watercontent of less than about 3 percent by weight and which issubstantially free of diluents. These solid surface active compositionsare generally prepared by a crystallization technique. Specifically, thesolid secondary alkyl sulfate compositions are prepared by contacting adetergent range alkyl sulfuric acid-containing solution with a base inaqueous solution, removing substantially all of the water from themixture, cooling in the presence of a nonionic organic liquid diluent tocrystallize a solid secondary alkyl sulfate-containing surface activecomposition from the mixture, and recovering and drying the crystallizedsecondary alkyl sulfate product. The solid secondary alkyl sulfateproduct contains at least about 80 percent by weight to about 99 percentby weight of secondary alkyl sulfate. The product generally containssome residual level of sodium sulfate. The product typically containsless than about 12 percent by weight, preferably less than about 9percent by weight, of sodium sulfate.

The hard surface cleaning composition of the invention comprises fromabout 0.1 to about 50 percent by weight of the secondary alkyl sulfatecomponent. Compositions containing from about 1 to about 21 percent byweight of the secondary alkyl sulfate component are preferred, whilecompositions containing from about 2 percent by weight and about 7percent by weight of the secondary alkyl sulfate component areparticularly preferred.

In one embodiment, the hard surface cleaning composition also containsat least one or more additional surfactant or cosurfactant compounds.The additional or cosurfactant compound is selected from the groupconsisting of nonionic surfactants, anionic surfactants, cationicsurfactants, zwitterionic surfactants and mixtures thereof. Theadditional or cosurfactant compounds function as cleaning agents in thehard surface cleaning composition of the present invention. In apreferred embodiment, it is preferred that the additional surfactant beone or more nonionic surfactants.

The nonionic surfactant or surfactants generally useful as additional orcosurfactant compounds in the present invention are the ethylene oxidecondensates (i.e., compounds produced by the condensation of ethyleneoxide groups which are hydrophilic in nature with an organic hydrophobiccompound which can be aliphatic or alkyl aromatic in nature) and thesugar-derived glycols (i.e., alkylpolyglycosides).

Particularly suitable nonionic surfactants are typically made up of oneor more ethylene oxide adducts, i.e. ethoxylates of alcohols oralkyl-substituted phenols, and can be represented by the formulaR--O--(CH₂ CH₂ O)_(n) --H, wherein the RO group corresponds to thestarting alcohol or alkyl-substituted phenol (less its active hydrogenatom). In general, the suitable alcohol ethoxylates are derived fromalcohols in the carbon range of from about 6 to about 18, while thesuitable alkyl phenol ethoxylates are derived from alkyl phenols havingalkyl substituents in the carbon range of from about 8 to about 12. Boththe alcohol ethoxylates and the alkyl phenol ethoxylates are nonionicsurfactants well known as components of conventional hard surfacecleaning products.

With regard to the use of alcohol ethoxylate surfactants, the individualcompounds are preferably characterized by an alkyl R group in the carbonnumber range of from about 8 to about 15. Both primary and secondaryalcohol ethoxylates (having primary or secondary alkyl R groups,respectively) are suitable in the invention. The R group is suitablylinear or branched.

The alkyl-substituted phenol ethoxylate compounds preferably have analkyl substituent with between about 8 and about 11 carbon atoms. Thealkyl substituent may either be branched or linear.

Suitable nonionic ethoxylate surfactants typically contain an averagenumber of ethylene oxide units (i.e., an average value of n in the aboveformula) which is in the range of from about 3 to about 14 per molecule.Preferably, the ethoxylate surfactants contain an average number ofethylene oxide units which is in the range of from about 5 to about 9per molecule.

The sugar-derived glycols or alkyl glycosides which are useful asnonionic surfactants preferably have from about 6 to about 30 carbonatoms. Particularly suitable sugar-derived glycols are thealkylpolyglycosides.

Suitable anionic surfactants for use as additional surfactant orcosurfactant compounds in the hard surface cleaning compositions of thepresent invention include the water-soluble, particularly the alkalimetal, ammonium and alkylammonium (e.g., monoethanolammonium,diethanolammonium or triethanolammonium) salts of organic sulfuric acidreaction products having in their molecular structure an alkyl groupcontaining from about 10 to about 20 carbon atoms and a sulfonic orsulfuric acid ester group. As used herein, the term "alkyl" alsoincludes the alkyl portion of aryl groups. Examples of anionic syntheticsurfactants include primary alkyl sulfates, especially those obtained bysulfating the higher alcohols (C₈ to C₁₈ carbon atoms), and alkylbenzenesulfonates in which the alkyl group contains from about 9 to about 15carbon atoms in a straight chain or branched chain configuration.

Other suitable anionic surfactants which can be used in addition tosecondary alkyl sulfate in the liquid detergent composition include thewater-soluble salts of: paraffin sulfonates containing from about 8 toabout 24 carbon atoms; olefin sulfonates containing from about 8 toabout 24, preferably from about 12 to about 16 carbon atoms,particularly alpha olefin sulfonates; alkenyl or alkyl carboxysulfonatescontaining from about 8 to about 30 carbon atoms; alkylethoxycarboxylates containing from about 8 to about 24 carbon atoms andhaving from about 1 to about 10 units of ethylene oxide per molecule;alkyl glyceryl ether sulfonates derived from ethers of C₈ -C₁₈ alcohols;alkyl phenol ethoxysulfates containing from about 1 to about 10 units ofethylene oxide per molecule and from about 8 to about 12 carbon atoms inthe alkyl group; ethoxysulfates, i.e., alkyl ethylene oxide ethersulfates, containing from about 1 to about 10 units of ethylene oxideper molecule and from about 10 to about 15 carbon atoms in the alkylgroup; and soap. Especially suitable are water-soluble salts of alcoholethoxysulfates containing from about 1 to about 6 units of ethyleneoxide per molecule and from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms in thealkyl group.

Other useful anionic surfactants include the water-soluble salts ofesters of alpha-sulfonated fatty acids containing from about 6 to about20 carbon atoms in the fatty acid group and from about 1 to about 10carbon atoms in the ester group; water-soluble salts of2-acyloxy-alkane-1-sulfonic acids containing from about 2 to about 9carbon atoms in the acyl group and from about 9 to about 23 carbon atomsin the alkane moiety; and beta-alkoxy alkane sulfonates containing fromabout 1 to about 3 carbon atoms in the alkyl group and from about 8 toabout 20 carbon atoms in the alkane moiety.

Preferred anionic surfactants for use as additional or cosurfactantcompounds are the alcohol ethoxysulfates which contain an average of upto about 6 ethylene oxide units per mole of alkyl sulfate.

Suitable zwitterionic surfactants for use as additional surfactant orcosurfactant compounds in the present composition include derivatives ofaliphatic quaternary ammonium, phosphonium, and sulfonium compounds inwhich the aliphatic moiety can be straight chain or branched chain andwherein one of the aliphatic substituents contains at least one anionicwater-solubilizing group. Examples of suitable zwitterionic surfactantsinclude 3-(N,N-dimethyl-N-hexadecylammonio)-propane-1-sulfonate and theammonium sulfonates and sulfates disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,925,262,issued Dec. 9, 1975 and 3,929,678, issued Dec. 30, 1975, the teachingsof which are incorporated herein by reference.

Suitable cationic surfactants for use as additional or cosurfactantcompounds in the present hard surface cleaning composition includeoctadecyl trimethylammonium chloride, cetyl trimethylammonium methylsulfate, polymeric cationics derived from monomers such as N,N,N-trimethyl-N-methylacryloxy (2-hydroxypropyl) ammonium chloride andcationic monomers such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,212,820,issued on Jul. 15, 1980, 4,098,987, issued on Jul. 4, 1978, 4,171,418,issued on Oct. 16, 1979, and 4,426,489, issued Jan. 7, 1984, therelevant teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference. Inaddition to quaternary ammonium cationic moieties, the compounds withphosphonium, sulfonium, pyridium and isothiouronium moieties and thelike are also among the well known cationic surfactants.

The additional surfactant or cosurfactant compound(s) is typicallyutilized in the hard surface cleaning composition in an amount of fromabout 0 percent by weight to about 15 percent by weight, and preferablyin the range of from about 0.1 percent by weight to about 12 percent byweight, and more preferably from about 0.2 percent by weight to about 6percent by weight, basis the total weight of the hard surface cleaningcomposition.

The hard surface cleaning compositions of the present invention can, ifdesired, contain one or more builder components. Powdered hard surfacecleaning compositions necessarily contain one or more builders, whileliquid hard surface cleaning compositions often contain no builder orrelatively small amounts of one or more builders. Builders are known tobe added to powdered hard surface cleaning compositions to enhancecleaning performance by softening water, providing alkalinity andbuffering capacity, providing emulsification and deflocculationproperties, and providing abrasive action. This builder component caneither be of the organic or inorganic type. The builder component ispreferably one or more materials selected from the group consisting ofhydratable alkali metal phosphates, alkali metal carbonates andbicarbonates (mixed or separate, anhydrous or partially hydrated),zeolites (either crystalline or amorphous, and either natural orsynthetic), ethylenediamine tetraacetate, nitrilotriacetate, andmixtures thereof. Carbonates and complexing agents such as, for example,ethylenediaminetetraacetate, are particularly preferred builders.Examples of water-soluble inorganic builders which can be used, alone orin admixture with themselves and organic alkaline builder salts, arealkali metal carbonates, phosphates, polyphosphates, and silicates.Specific examples of such salts are sodium tripolyphosphate, sodiumcarbonate, potassium carbonate, trisodium phosphate, tetrasodiumpyrophosphate, tetrapotassium pyrophosphate, potassium tripolyphosphate,and sodium hexametaphosphate. Examples of organic builder salts whichcan be used alone, or in admixture with each other or with the precedinginorganic alkaline builder salts are alkali metal polycarboxylates,e.g., water-soluble citrates such as sodium and potassium citrate,sodium and potassium tartrate, the sodium and potassium salts oftartaric acid monosuccinate, the sodium and potassium salts of tartaricacid disuccinate, sodium and potassium ethylenediaminetetraacetate,sodium and potassium N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-ethylene diamine triacetates,sodium and potassium nitrilo triacetates and sodium and potassiumN-(2-hydroxyethyl)-nitrilo diacetates. Other organic detergency builderssuch as water-soluble phosphonates can find use in the compositions ofthe invention. In powdered hard surface cleaning compositions, thebuilder is generally present in an amount between about 25 percent byweight and about 99.9 percent by weight, preferably in an amount betweenabout 40 percent by weight and about 95 percent by weight, and mostpreferably between about 65 percent by weight and about 95 percent byweight, basis the total weight of the hard surface cleaning composition.In liquid hard surface cleaning compositions, the builder is typicallypresent in an amount between about 0 percent by weight and about 32percent by weight, preferably between about 0.1 percent by weight andabout 12 percent by weight, and more preferably between about 0.5percent by weight and about 4 percent by weight, basis the total weightof the hard surface cleaning composition.

The hard surface cleaning composition may also contain an alkanolaminecomponent selected from the group consisting of an monoethanolamine,diethanolamine, triethanolamine and mixtures thereof. Low levels of thealkanolamines, particularly monoethanolamine, are used to enhanceproduct cleaning performance and buffering ability. While the presentcompositions can contain mixtures of the alkanolamines, best colorstability is obtained using single alkanolamines. When the hard surfacecleaning composition contains an alkanolamine component, such componentis typically present in the composition in an amount in the range offrom about 0 percent by weight to about 7 percent by weight, andpreferably in an amount in the range of from about 1 percent by weightto about 4 percent by weight, basis the total weight of the hard surfacecleaning composition.

The hard surface cleaning composition of the present invention may alsocontain one or more solvents to aid in the soil removal and blending ofthe surfactants and builder components, if present. Liquid hard surfacecleaning compositions necessarily contain one or more solvents, whilepowdered hard surface cleaning compositions often contain no solvent orrelatively small amounts of one or more solvents. Solvents are known tobe added to liquid hard surface cleaning compositions to stabilize,couple ingredients, and enhance performance. The solvent may be water orany other known solvent which aids in the blending of surfactants.Solvents other than water which are suitable include the lower alcoholssuch as, for example, ethanol, isopropanol, butanol, etc., the alkalimetal aryl sulfonates such as, for example, sodium xylenesulfonate,sodium cumenesulfonate, sodium toluenesulfonate, etc., the polyols suchas, for example, propylene glycol, hexylene glycol, etc., the glycolethers such as, for example, propylene glycol n-butylether andmonopropylene glycol monomethylether, etc., ethylene glycolmonobutylether, diethylene glycol monobutylether, and the like andmixtures thereof. The solvent(s) is typically present in a liquid hardsurface cleaning composition in an amount in the range of from about 60percent by weight to about 99.9 percent by weight, basis the totalweight of the composition.

When a lower alcohol is used as a solvent, it is typically used incombination with at least one other solvent such as water, polyols, etc.The amount of lower alcohol utilized in the hard surface cleaningcomposition is generally an amount in the range of from about 0.1percent by weight to about 7 percent by weight, basis the total weightof the composition.

Any polyol containing from about 2 to about 6 carbon atoms and from 2 toabout 6 hydroxy groups can be used as a solvent in the liquid hardsurface cleaning compositions of the present invention. Examples of suchpolyols are ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, hexylene glycol andglycerine. Propylene glycol is particularly preferred. When a polyol isused as a solvent, the polyol typically is used in combination with atleast one other solvent and represents from about 0.1 percent by weightto about 11 percent by weight, basis the total weight of the detergentcomposition.

In a preferred embodiment, the solvent is water or a water-containingsolvent system. The hard surface cleaning compositions generally containfrom about 0.1 percent by weight to about 99.9 percent by weight,preferably from about 7 percent by weight to about 98 percent by weight,basis the total weight of the composition, of water. A particularlysuitable water-containing solvent system contains water, ethanol and oneor more polyols. In liquid hard surface cleaning compositions, thesolvent is generally present in an amount between about 60 percent byweight and about 99.9 percent by weight, preferably in an amount betweenabout 70 percent by weight and about 98 percent by weight, and mostpreferably between about 85 percent by weight and about 98 percent byweight, basis the total weight of the hard surface cleaning composition.In powdered hard surface cleaning compositions, the solvent is typicallypresent in an amount between about 0.1 percent by weight and about 21percent by weight, and preferably between about 0.5 percent by weightand about 4 percent by weight, basis the total weight of the hardsurface cleaning composition.

In addition to its anionic surfactant component, secondary alkylsulfate, the hard surface cleaning composition may suitably contain ofother components known in the art for use in hard surface cleaners.Non-limiting examples of such components include filler compounds suchas sodium sulfate and sodium chloride, dyes, fragrances, bleaches,bleach activators, enzymes, viscosity modifiers, and the like. Theamount of these components present in the hard surface cleaningcomposition will typically be less than about 10 percent by weight, andpreferably less than about 5 percent by weight, basis the total weightof the composition. It is understood, however, filler compounds maycomprise up to about 50 percent by weight of the total composition inpowdered hard surface cleaning compositions.

The various components of the hard surface cleaning composition aresuitably blended into the finished composition by conventional methodssuch as, for instance, by direct mixing/blending and/or agglomerationfor liquid compositions and dry mixing/blending for powderedcompositions. In a preferred embodiment, a liquid hard surface cleaningcomposition contains from about 2 percent by weight to about 7 percentby weight, basis the total weight of the composition, of a secondaryalkyl sulfate compound having a carbon number in the range of from about12 to about 18, from about 0.1 percent by weight to about 12 percent byweight, basis the total weight of the composition, of at least oneadditional surfactant, from about 0.1 percent by weight to about 12percent by weight, basis the total weight of the composition, of abuilder, and from about 70 percent by weight to about 98 percent byweight, basis the total weight of the composition, of a solvent.

The soiled surfaces to be cleaned by the hard surface cleaningcompositions of the present invention include surfaces containing oilyor greasy materials and other soils, as well as dust and dirt, etc.

The ranges and limitations provided in the instant specification andclaims are those which are believed to particularly point out anddistinctly claim the present invention. It is, however, understood thatother ranges and limitations which perform substantially the samefunction in substantially the same manner to obtain the same orsubstantially the same result are intended to be within the scope of thepresent invention as defined by the specification and claims.

The invention is further described with reference to the followingexamples, which are intended to illustrate certain aspects of theinvention, without limiting its broader scope.

ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS Example 1

79.4 Grams of water were added to the mixing vessel and warmed to 100°F. 2.5 Grams of sodium xylenesulfonate (40% active), 6 grams of sodiumethylenediaminetetraacetate, 4 grams of sodium carbonate, 3.3 Grams ofC₁₂ secondary alkyl sulfate (SAS) (sodium salt, 99% active powder) and4.8 grams of C₁₂ -C₁₃ alcohol ethoxylate having an average of 6.5ethylene oxide units per molecule (AE) were sequentially added to thewater and the mixture was allowed to stir. The resulting material was aclear stable liquid. The properties of the composition prepared arepresented in Table I and FIG. 1.

Example 2

73.9 Grams of water were added to the mixing vessel and warmed to 100°F. 8 Grams of sodium xylenesulfonate (40% active), 6 grams of sodiumethylenediaminetetraacetate, 4 grams of sodium carbonate, 3.3 grams ofC₁₄ secondary alkyl sulfate (SAS) (sodium salt, 99% active powder) and4.8 grams of C₁₂ -C₁₃ alcohol ethoxylate having an average of 6.5ethylene oxide units per molecule, were sequentially added to the waterand the mixture was allowed to stir. The resulting material was aslightly hazy liquid. The properties of the composition prepared arepresented in Table I and FIG. 1.

Example 3

76.8 Grams of water were added to the mixing vessel and warmed to 100°F. 5.1 Grams of sodium xylenesulfonate (40% active), 6 grams of sodiumethylenediaminetetraacetate, 4 grams of sodium carbonate, 1.66 grams ofC₁₄ secondary alkyl sulfate (SAS) (sodium salt,. 99% active powder),1.66 grams of C₁₆ secondary alkyl sulfate (SAS) (sodium salt, 99% activepowder) and 4.8 grams of C₁₂ -C₁₃ alcohol ethoxylate having an averageof 6.5 ethylene oxide units per molecule, were sequentially added to thewater and the mixture was allowed to stir. The resulting material was aclear stable liquid. The properties of the composition prepared arepresented in Table I and FIG. 1.

Example 4

73.9 Grams of water were added to the mixing vessel and warmed to 100°F. 8 Grams of sodium xylenesulfonate (40% active), 6 grams of sodiumethylenediaminetetraacetate, 4 grams of sodium carbonate, 3.3 grams ofC₁₆ secondary alkyl sulfate (SAS) (sodium salt, 99% active powder) and4.8 grams of C₁₂ -C₁₃ alcohol ethoxylate having an average of 6.5ethylene oxide units per molecule, were sequentially added to the waterand the mixture was allowed to stir. The resulting material was a cloudyliquid. The properties of the composition prepared are presented inTable I and FIG. 1.

Example 5

73.9 Grams of water were added to the mixing vessel and warmed to 100°F. 8 Grams of sodium xylenesulfonate (40% active), 6 grams of sodiumethylenediaminetetraacetate, 4 grams of sodium carbonate, 3.3 grams ofC₁₈ secondary alkyl sulfate (SAS) (sodium salt, 99% active powder) and4.8 grams of C₁₂ -C₁₃ alcohol ethoxylate having an average of 6.5ethylene oxide units per molecule, were sequentially added to the waterand the mixture was allowed to stir. The resulting material was a cloudyunstable liquid. The properties of the composition prepared arepresented in Table I and FIG. 1.

Example 6

73.9 Grams of water were added to the mixing vessel and warmed to 100°F. 8 Grams of sodium xylenesulfonate (40% active), 6 grams of sodiumethylenediaminetetraacetate, 4 grams of sodium carbonate, 0.67 grams ofC₁₂ secondary alkyl sulfate (SAS) (sodium salt, 99% active powder), 2.67grams of C₁₆ secondary alkyl sulfate (SAS) (sodium salt, 99% activepowder), and 4.8 grams of C₁₂ -C₁₃ alcohol ethoxylate having an averageof 6.5 ethylene oxide units per molecule, were sequentially added to thewater and the mixture was allowed to stir. The resulting material was aclear stable liquid. The properties of the composition prepared arepresented in Table I and FIG. 1.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE A

Comparative Example A was carried out in a manner similar to Example 1,except that 65.8 grams of water and 6.2 grams of sodium xylenesulfonate(40% active) were used, and 13.2 grams of C₁₂ linear alkylbenzenesulfonate (LAS) (sodium salt, 25% active) were used in place of thesecondary alkyl sulfate component. The resulting material was a clearstable liquid. The properties of the composition prepared are presentedin Table I and FIG. 1.

DISCUSSION OF THE RESULTS AND DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

As can be seen in Table I and FIG. 1, the level of soil removal obtainedwith secondary alkyl sulfate-containing hard surface cleaningcompositions (Examples 1-6) is much higher than that obtained with hardsurface cleaning compositions containing LAS (Comparative Example A). Itcan also be seen from Table I that some of the cleaning compositionscontaining secondary alkyl sulfate (Examples 1 and 3) required a smalleramount of coupling agent, i.e., sodium xylenesulfonate, to obtain aclear stable liquid composition.

                                      TABLE I                                     __________________________________________________________________________    SECONDARY ALKYL SULFATES (SAS) IN HARD SURFACE                                CLEANERS (HSC's)                                                                          Ex. Ex. Ex. Ex. Ex. Ex. Comp.                                     Component, % wt                                                                           1   2   3   4   5   6   Ex. A                                     __________________________________________________________________________    Basis 100% active unless                                                      otherwise indicated                                                           C.sub.12 SAS                                                                              3.3 None                                                                              None                                                                              None                                                                              None                                                                              0.66                                                                              None                                      C.sub.14 SAS                                                                              None                                                                              3.3 1.65                                                                              None                                                                              None                                                                              None                                                                              None                                      C.sub.16 SAS                                                                              None                                                                              None                                                                              1.65                                                                              3.3 None                                                                              2.64                                                                              None                                      C.sub.18 SAS                                                                              None                                                                              None                                                                              None                                                                              None                                                                              3.3 None                                                                              None                                      C.sub.12 LAS                                                                              None                                                                              None                                                                              None                                                                              None                                                                              None                                                                              None                                                                              3.3                                       C.sub.12-13 EO.sub.6.5                                                                    4.8 4.8 4.8 4.8 4.8 4.8 4.8                                       Sodium Carbonate                                                                          4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0                                       Na.sub.4 EDTA                                                                             6.0 6.0 6.0 6.0 6.0 6.0 6.0                                       Sodium Xylenesulfonate                                                                    2.5 8.0 5.1 8.0 8.0 8.0 6.2                                       (40%)                                                                         Water       79.4                                                                              73.9                                                                              76.8                                                                              73.9                                                                              73.9                                                                              73.9                                                                              75.7                                      Appearance.sup.a), 24° C.                                                          +   +   +   -   -   +   +                                         Clear Point.sup.b), °C.                                                            <-5 ND  1   ND  ND  33  <-5                                       PCT.sup.c), °C.                                                                    >80 ND  75  ND  ND  <50 60                                        Detergency.sup.d)                                                                         50.1                                                                              49.4                                                                              52.7                                                                              54.0                                                                              55.4                                                                              51.6                                                                              47.7                                      __________________________________________________________________________     .sup.a) + = clear, homogeneous solution; - = cloudy, not homogeneous; and     ND = not determined.                                                          .sup.b) Clear point is the temperature above which the formulation is         reliably clear.                                                               .sup.c) Phase coalescence temperature (PCT) is the highest temperature at     which the formulation can be heated with out it separating into two           phases.                                                                       .sup.d) Temperature = 74° F., 120 ppm water hardness. Soil removal     from linoleum tiles was determined as described in section A3 of ASTM D       4488-89 standard test method. "Annual Book of ASTM Standards", vol. 15.04     American Society for Testing and Materials, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.       All examples and comparative examples were tested at a dose of 2              grams/liter (2% wt.). Results are expressed as percent soil removal.     

What is claimed is:
 1. A hard surface cleaning composition comprisingfrom about 0.1 percent by weight to about 50 percent by weight, basisthe total weight of the composition, of one or more secondary alkylsulfate compounds.
 2. A liquid hard surface cleaning compositioncomprising from about 0.1 percent by weight to about 21 percent byweight, basis the total weight of the composition, of one or moresecondary alkyl sulfate compounds, and from about 60 percent by weightto about 99.9 percent by weight, basis the total weight of thecomposition, of one or more solvents.
 3. A powdered hard surfacecleaning composition comprising from about 0.1 percent by weight toabout 50 percent by weight, basis the total weight of the composition,of one or more secondary alkyl sulfate compounds, and from about 25percent by weight to about 99.9 percent by weight, basis the totalweight of the composition, of one or more builders.
 4. The compositionof claim 1 wherein said one or more secondary alkyl sulfate compoundshas a formula: ##STR2## wherein R₂ represents an alkyl group having fromabout 3 to about 18 carbon atoms and R₃ represents an alkyl group havingfrom about 1 to about 6 carbon atoms.
 5. The composition of claim 4wherein said one or more secondary alkyl sulfate compounds is selectedfrom the group consisting of a C₁₂ secondary alkyl sulfate wherein R₂represents an alkyl group having 10 carbon atoms and R₃ represents analkyl group having 1 carbon atom, a C₁₄ secondary alkyl sulfate whereinR₂ represents an alkyl group having 12 carbon atoms and R₃ represents analkyl group having 1 carbon atom, a C₁₆ secondary alkyl sulfate whereinR₂ represents an alkyl group having 14 carbon atoms and R₃ represents analkyl group having 1 carbon atom, a C₁₈ secondary alkyl sulfate whereinR₂ represents an alkyl group having 16 carbon atoms and R₃ represents analkyl group having 1 carbon atom, and mixtures of these compounds. 6.The composition of claim 1 wherein the secondary alkyl sulfate compoundis added to the composition in the form of a free flowing powder.
 7. Thecomposition of claim 1 wherein the secondary alkyl sulfate compound ispresent in the composition in an amount of from about 1 percent byweight to about 21 percent by weight, basis the total weight of thecomposition.
 8. The composition of claim 3 wherein said one or morebuilders is selected from the group consisting of alkali metalcarbonates, alkali metal phosphates, alkali metal polyphosphates, alkalimetal silicates, alkali metal bicarbonates, alkali metalpolycarboxylates, polyacrylates and mixtures thereof.
 9. The compositionof claim 8 wherein said one or more builders is an alkali metalpolycarboxylate.
 10. The composition of claim 9 wherein said alkalimetal polycarboxylate is selected from the group consisting of sodiumcitrate, potassium citrate, the sodium salt of tartaric acidmonosuccinate, the potassium salt of tartaric acid monosuccinate, thesodium salt of tartaric acid disuccinate, the potassium salt of tartaricacid disuccinate, and mixtures thereof.
 11. The composition of claim 3wherein said builder is present in an amount of from about 40 percent byweight to about 95 percent by weight, basis the total weight of thecomposition.
 12. The composition of claim 1 wherein said compositionadditionally comprises one or more cosurfactant compounds selected fromthe group consisting of anionic surfactants, nonionic surfactants,cationic surfactants, zwitterionic surfactants, and mixtures thereof.13. The composition of claim 1 wherein said composition additionallycomprises one or more cosurfactant compounds selected from the groupconsisting of anionic surfactants, nonionic surfactants, and mixturesthereof.
 14. The composition of claim 13 wherein said one or morecosurfactant compounds is a nonionic surfactant selected from alcoholethoxylates having an average of from about 3 to about 14 ethylene oxideunits per ethoxylate molecule, alkyl-substituted phenol ethoxylateshaving an average of from about 3 to about 14 ethylene oxide units perethoxylate molecule, sugar-derived glycols, and mixtures thereof. 15.The composition of claim 1 wherein said composition additionallycomprises from about 0.1 percent by weight to about 12 percent byweight, basis the total weight of the composition, of one or morecosurfactant compounds.
 16. The composition of claim 2 wherein said oneor more solvents is selected from the group consisting of water, loweralcohols, polyols, alkali metal aryl sulfonates and mixtures thereof.17. The composition of claim 16 wherein said one or more solventscomprises a mixture of a lower alcohol, water, and a polyol.
 18. Thecomposition of claim 2 wherein said composition comprises from about 70percent by weight to about 98 percent by weight, basis the total weightof the composition, of one or more solvents.
 19. The composition ofclaim 1 wherein said composition comprises from about 0.1 percent byweight to about 99.9 percent by weight, basis the total weight of thecomposition, of one or more solvents.